This Roadster Concept Previews the Return of an Audi Sports Car

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Audi unveiled an electric two-seat sports car with design throwbacks to the TT and Auto Union race cars.
A vertical rectangular grille marks a new design language for Audi, and a hardtop roof folds back into a targa-like open cabin.
The Audi Concept C roadster seen in these photos will look very similar to the upcoming production car.

It’s small, it’s fierce, it looks back at the grand prix racing cars of the late ’30s and at the more recent—and much missed Audi TT, but it’s not a retro design. It’s electric and modern, showcasing a new grille shape for Audi and an interior that combines simplicity of shape with richness of material and tactile interface. Audi says the Concept C highlights details and features that will define the brand’s design philosophy going forward. A New Design Era for AudiAudi’s on a tear, introducing concepts, replacing aging models like the A6 and Q3, and promising additional new models in 2026, including electric, hybrid, and combustion powerplants. Audi will also be entering Formula 1 in 2026, making it a good time to showcase performance models. View PhotosAudiWith a new design head at the helm (chief creative officer Massimo Frascella joined Audi in the summer of 2024), Audi wants to reclaim its reputation for making bold vehicles that garner immediate recognition. To do that, it’s moving away from the amorphous hexagonal grilles of its current fleet to a more defined rectangular shape, one that can frame the interlocking rings of its logo and be scaled up or down depending on vehicle size. To introduce the new grille, Audi pulled the silks off the Concept C to reveal a small two-seater that may share a platform with the upcoming electric Porsche 718. We saw it in the scaleless context of a studio, and measurements show it to be larger than it looks, 178 inches long and 77.6 inches wide with a 101.1-inch wheelbase. That makes it longer and wider than both the original TT and the discontinued R8. Finished in a satin-like Titanium paint, the Concept C looks like carved metal, especially from the rear, where its fastback roof is uninterrupted by pesky rear windows that are replaced by a series of louvers. In the front, its silvery sheen and narrow headlights give it the steely gaze of a Robocop helmet. Running lights appear as a dash line segmented into four, and headlights expand that light signature to the outer edges but retain the quad-theme division. It’s repeated in the taillights, and Audi says some version of the four-light design will make it to the production models. View PhotosAudiAlthough the Concept C is small, it’s beefy, with sharp-cut fender and hood lines, and a widening rear with a muscular “shoulder line” over the back tires. Who can resist a strong shoulder? Forged carbon fiber in a warm-tinted gloss adds visual drama to the wide side splitters and rear diffuser. A Hideway Roof and ScreenA first for Audi is the retractable hardtop, which folds into the back deck, leaving an open-air cabin. Inside are seats covered in a two-tone wool twill that designer Tiziana Mauri (head of color and trim) says was chosen for its ability to breathe and offer comfort while still providing an interesting texture to the leather-free cabin. Door handles and other controls mimic the strong vertical elements of the grille and body lines. The roundest part of this car—aside from the 21-inch wheels—is the steering wheel. Interestingly, Audi chose not to go with the usual sporty flat-bottom design, but instead a true circle with mechanical controls at its center. View PhotosAudiView PhotosAudiA satisfying response to controls is a big part of the Concept C’s design. Every switch and knob promises to give the (recently trademarked) “Audi click” a tactile and audible response based on the previous MMI interface knob’s memorable sound and feel. The finish on the switches and trim mimics the warm metal tones of the exterior. To prevent distractions while still offering phone connectivity and interface, the Concept C has a hideaway screen design, which tucks a 10.4-inch display completely out of sight when not in use. Also hidden is item storage under a transparent console cover. More Still to ComeDetails on the powertrain are scarce, only that it will be all-electric. The concept is rear-wheel drive, but as with most electric vehicles, all-wheel drive is only an extra motor away. Audi says the final version will be close to the concept, describing planned changes as unnoticeable from “50 meters.” When the production version does reach Audi showrooms, it’ll be priced somewhere between the outgoing Audi TT and R8, which, admittedly, is a pretty broad range considering the former last started at around $53,000 and the latter last started at around $161,000. We’ll wager that it likely lands in the middle, around the six-figure mark. After its debut today in Milan, the Concept C will head to the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA) show in Munich, Germany.More Audi News